The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-18
Four Of the Chicago Anarchists
Hanged.
Engel, Spies, Fischer and P.srsons Suffer
the Extreme Pcnalty-Fielslen and
Scliwab Get Life Imprisonment
History Of the Crime.


cis;on IN full: @
STATE oT ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
SPRINGFIELD. Nov 10, 1SS7.-On August 20,
I 1856, in the Cook County criminal court, Au-
gustus Spies, Albert II. Parsons, Samuel
FIelden, Michael Schwab, Adolph Fischer,
George Engel and Louis LingS were found
guilty by the verdict of the jury and after
ward sentenced to be hanged for the
murder Of Matthias J. began. An appeal
was taken from such finding and SEN
tence to the Supreme Court of the State. That
court upon final hearing. and after much de-
Liberation, unanimously affirmed the Judgment
/ OF the court below The case now comes be-
fore me by petition Of the defendants for con-
sderation as Governor OF the State. II the let
tiers Of Albert Parsons, Adoph Fischer, George
Engel and Louis Lingg demanding ''uncondi-
tional release" or as they express it, liberty or
| death" and protesting in the strongest language
| against mercy or communication Of sentence pro-
nounced against them, can be considered petit
! tions, pardon, could it be granted which might
imply any guilt whatever upon the Part Of
either of them, would not be such vindicatiOn
| as they demand.
| Executive Intervention upon the grounds in
sisted upon by the four abOve-named persons
could in no sense be deemed an exercise OF the
constitutional power to grant reprieves, con-
mutations and pardons unless based upon the
belief on my part OF their entire innocence Of
the crime of which they stand convicted A
| careful consideration of the evidence in the
record of the trial of the parties, as well as OF
oil alleged and claimed for them outside OF the
| record, has failed to produce upon my mind any
/ impression tending TO impeach the YER
dict Of the jury or the judgment OF the trial
court or Of the Supreme Court affirming
the guilt of all these parties. Satisfied, there
fore, as 1 am of their guilt. I am precluded
| considering the question of communication OF the
! m Parsons AdOlnh Fischer.
| George Engel and Louis Lingg to imprisonment
! in the peniteEtiary, as they emphaticaly de-
! clare they will not accept such communication.
: Sumuel Fielden. Michael Schwab and August
1 Spies unite in a petition for Executive Glenn
! ency;'' Fielder and Schwab in addition. pre-
| sent separate and supplementary petitions for
the Communication of their sentences.
| While, as said above, am satisfied of the
/ guilt Of the parties, as found by the verdict of
! the jury which was sustained by the judgments
| Of the courts, a most careful consideration Of
( the whole subject leads me to the conclusion
/ that the sentence OF the law Us to Samuel
Fielder and Michael Schwab may be modified
as to each Of them in the interest of humanity
and without doing violence to public justice.
| And as to the said Samuel Fielden and Michael
! Schwab the sentence is committed to imprison-
ment in the penitcntiary for life. AS to all the
| other named defendants do not feel justified
| in interfering with the sentence OF the court.
! While l would gladly have come to q differ
! ent conclusion in regard to the sentence of de-
| PENDANTS August Spies, Adolph Fischer, George
| Engel, Albert K. Parsons and Louis Lingg.
! regret to say that under a solemn sense of the
! obligations OF my Office have been unable to
| dc SO. RICHARD J. OGLESBY, Governor.
! The following Is a copy of the instru-
ment officially committing the sentence of
! Fieiden and Schwab:
STATE OF ILLINOIS. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
! RICHARD j. OGLEsBY, GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS,
! To tie Sheriff Of Cook County:
| GREETING: Whereas, Samuel Fielden and
! Micl ael Schwab were convicted at the June
| term, A. d. 1856, of the criminal court of Cook
| County of the crime of murder and were SEN
fenced to be hanged: and.
| Whereas. 1t has been presented to me by
divers good citizens of said county that said
Samuel Fielden and Michael Schwab are
fit and proper subjects for Executive Glenn
ency.
| Now know We that I, Richard j. Oglesby,
! Governor OF Illinois, by authority in me vested
! by the constitution OF this State do by these
presents commute the sentence Of the said
Samuel Fielden and Michael Schwab to i'm
| prisonment in the penitentiary for life.
| In testimony whereof 1 hereto set my hand
and cause to be affixed the great seal of the
State. Done at the City of Springfield this 10th
day Of November, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, and
! of the independence of the United States the
one hundred and twelfth.
r. j. OGLEsBY Governor.
HENRY ID. DEMENT,, Secretary OF State.
PREPARING FOR DEATH.
CHICAGO, Nov 1l.-As soon as the sheriff
had received notice that four Of the An
archists would be hanged to-day every
preparation was ut once made.
At $40 o'clock Spies, Fischer and Engel
fi no in NShic oh hov
had babe farewell to their relatives and
! consigned to their cells. These were soon
closely guarded, an armed deputy standing
in front of each barred door. inside of
each cell was q lantern while table was
placed outside, and on this was lamp,
giving the guards an opportunity to watch
the movements Of each prisoner.
Mrs Lucy Parsons created scene in the
criminal court building about ten o'clock.
She walked down Michigan street to the
main entrance and was admitted to the
hallway by the armed guards. She had
with her lady friend. Approaching the
door which leads to the Jail yard, she de-
handed permission to proceed. This was
denied her by deputy sheriff who was
acting under directions Of Sheriff Matson.
"But must go in and see my husband"
exclaimed Mrs. Parsons.
"YOu can not" was the firm reply.
Then the dusky wife of the Anarchist
threw up her hands and fell to the floor in
dead faint. 1t took over twenty minutes
to bring her to consciousness, but when
this was done she was escorted from the |
building. Parsons was not informed Of the
episode.
INCREDIBLE GOODNESS.
CHICAGO, Nov. IL. 2 a. NAT one o'clock |
q i,, ho
Deputy Hartke had been guarding Spies |
since eight O'Clock. He reported that he |
had quite a long talk with the Anarchist. |
Spies declared that he had no reason to be |
afraid and then launched forth in a TRADE |
against the courts. He asserted that all |
the judges who had any connection with |
the case had reason to tremble while the |
Anarchists could hold up their heads |
and walk to death with steady |
footsteps.
TIE LAST INTERVIEW.
CHICAGO, Nov. ll.-When the news of the |
Communication OF the sentence of Fielden |
and Schwab was received at the Jail there |
was an extraordinary scene of activity |
The news was sent to the relatives Of all |
the condemned men and in short time |
they began to arrive at the Jail.
The first OF the women to come was Mrs
Schwab. Soon after Schwab was brought |
from his cell to the main office His wife
quickly advanced TO him, and throwing her
arms about his neck burst into tears.
Schwab returned the embrace in O calm
manner, and soon the two were chatting
quietly together.
After this Spies and Fischer were brought
from their cells and taken to the jail libra
ry. and Engel was brought to the private
ofice OF Mr.. FOiz. This was done for the
purpose OF allowing the relatives to take